Professor who performed landmark VR operation is speaker at Future of Care series

Professor Shafi Ahmed, who performed the world’s first virtual reality (VR) operation, will be the guest speaker in the second in a series of Future of Care distinguished addresses hosted jointly by University of Gloucestershire.

Professor Ahmed, whose VR operation was streamed live in 360 degree to more than 55,000 people worldwide, will share examples of how these technologies might be deployed to re-imagine the way health and care is delivered in the future.

Registration is open for the free event on Tuesday 29 March (7-8pm) at the University’s Oxstalls Campus, which can be attended in person or online.

Rob Blagden, Director of Libraries, Technology and Information at the University, said: “This event will reveal some incredible changes in healthcare that are already starting to become the norm in some parts of the world, including the UK.

“Professor Shafi Ahmed will share amazing stories about new technology that is transforming diagnosis and treatment in the health space.

“If you work in health or are a student preparing for a career in the NHS, this event will open your eyes to new concepts and approaches to care.

“If you are a technologist or an engineer, you’ll be inspired to see how software and its clever integration with new hardware can change the way care is delivered.

“If you’re a teacher or trainer, join us and prepare to update your course specification so you can ready the workforce of the future.”

The Future of Care series – a joint initiative between the University and the West of England Academic Health Science Network – highlights the potential of new and emerging technologies to address the ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan.